Higher Education Emergency Relief

Northwest Florida State College is participating in the Higher Education Economic Relief grant for students. If you are experiencing financial difficulties due to COVID-19 and meet the eligibility requirements, we encourage you to submit an application for funding.

These funds will be sent directly to BankMobile via your refund preference. Please make sure you have selected a refund preference with BankMobile if you submit a grant application. You can check BankMobile here.

UPDATE as of April 30, 2022:

• Total amount of funds NWFSC received: $16,335,561.00
• Total amount of emergency aid distributed to students from April 1, 2020 to April 30, 2022: $4,356,272
• Estimated total number of students eligible to receive emergency aid for 2021-2022: 4,073
• Total number of students who have received emergency aid for 2021-2022: 2,199
• HEERF Quarterly Full Report – September 2020
• HEERF Quarterly Full Report – December 2020
• HEERF Quarterly Full Report – March 2021
• HEERF Quarterly Full Report – June 2021
• Northwest Florida State College’s CARES Act Funding Report – March 2022

Eligibility Requirements per the Department of Education

• Students must have completed a 2020-2021 FAFSA
• Only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA):
  • U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen;
  • Valid Social Security number;
  • Registration with Selective Service (if the student is male);
  • A high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting.
  • Be currently registered for Fall 2020 term.
  • Not owe a refund on title IV grants or Not be in default on title IV loan or have fraudulently obtained or received title IV loans, or in excess of annual or aggregate limits
  • Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations
• Students who have already received an emergency grant prior to September 1, 2020 are  eligible.

Additionally, the amount of funds you will be eligible to receive will be based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated by your FAFSA. If you are unsure what your EFC number is, please login to your FAFSA account and review your 2020-2021 application.

For additional information, please call (850) 502-2895 to speak with a Student Success Navigator during normal business hours.

The NWFSC Wellness/Fitness Center in Raider Arena is open for general use by students, employees and the public from 8am – 8pm Mon-Fri.

On Aug 3, 2021, Northwest Florida State College was notified that 2 members of the campus community tested positive for COVID-19. In coordination with local health officials, the College has identified the days and locations this person was on campus. With that information, all individuals who potentially had contact with the person were notified. In alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials, Northwest Florida State College has developed protocols for dealing with positive cases and is following those protocols.

On Aug 2, 2021, Northwest Florida State College was notified that 2 members of the campus community tested positive for COVID-19.

On July 27, 2021, Northwest Florida State College was notified that 4 members of the campus community tested positive for COVID-19.

On July 26, 2021, Northwest Florida State College was notified that 3 members of the campus community tested positive for COVID-19.

From March 13, 2020 – April 30, 2021, there have been 70 COVID-19 confirmed positive cases.

The latest information about Northwest Florida State College’s response to COVID-19 is available on our Coronavirus Updates page.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19.

If you had a positive COVID-19 test AND have remained asymptomatic, you may discontinue isolation when at least 10 days have passed since your first positive COVID-19 test. If you test positive for COVID-19 and HAVE symptoms, then you must self-isolate for 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of symptoms.

People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 – excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months. 

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.

What counts as close contact?

• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
• You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged/kissed them)
• You shared eating or drinking utensils
• They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

Steps to take

• Self-quarantine for 14 days, if the person (close contact) reports no symptoms
• Watch for fever (100.4 F), cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms of COVID-19
• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19

Yes, hand sanitizer is available across all campus and center locations.

Employees who request to work remotely must have an approved accommodation on file and have completed a Telecommuting Agreement form. For more information, please contact Human Resources at 850-729-5337.

Yes, NWFSC-sponsored Florida Blue medical plans will cover medical expenses associated with treatment for COVID-19/Coronavirus.

Questions should be first directed to your supervisor. Campus safety and security concerns may be directed to Chief Aaron Murray at (850) 729-5260 or by emailing murraya8@nwfsc.edu. Human Resource questions may be directed Roberta Mackey by calling (850) 729-5365, or by emailing humanresources@nwfsc.edu.

Vacation and personal time can be used for time off due to childcare needs.

However, the use of sick leave is guided by NWFSC Board of Trustee Policy HR 18.00 and is reserved for employees unable to perform his/her duty because of personal illness or illness/death of a family member.

Please review any concerns with your supervisor and refer to the NWFSC Personnel Handbook located on RaiderNet for further information.

NWFSC employees needing assistance coping with the emotional impact of COVID-19/Coronavirus, please contact Pattison Professional Counseling at (850) 863-2876 or (850) 682-1234.

As always, employees should contact Human Resources to determine if his/her situation is subject to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or as a reasonable accommodation under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

NWFSC is following local health guidelines provided by the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Okaloosa County, which are informed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Any employee or student showing signs of illness should leave the campus immediately and return home to self-monitor.  

Per the DOH, if an individual tests positive for COVID and DOES NOT show symptoms, the individual must self-isolate for 10 days after the date of their first positive test. If the student or employee tests positive for COVID and DOES show symptoms, the individual must self-isolate for 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of symptoms. 

If an employee learns about a positive diagnosis for a student in their class and the student is present, the employee should immediately contact Chief Aaron Murray at 850-729-6888. Chief Murray will assess the situation and determine what next steps are appropriate. 

As soon as possible, the employee should fill out the COVID incident report, available on RaiderNet under the Forms tab. 

If an employee learns about a positive diagnosis for a student in their class and the student is NOT present, the college employee should fill out the COVID incident report, available on RaiderNet under the Forms tab, which will initiate the appropriate protocols for sanitization and notifications. Any contaminated, or potentially contaminated, area will be closed until such time it can be sanitized according to CDC protocols. 

All employees and students should monitor themselves by checking their temperature and watching for symptoms of COVID-19. 

ABM, the college’s custodial contractor, will clean college facilities each scheduled work shift.  High traffic classrooms and computer labs will be cleaned additionally at the Niceville campus where staff is available.